Spring Fair BBQ Playoff 2026
Puyallup, Washington
April 10th-12th, 2026
QUICK FACTS
Registration Deadline: March 31st, 2026
Prize Pool: $25,000
Team Limit: 28+ (Waitlist Available)
Categories: Chicken, Ribs, Pork and Brisket
In Conjunction With: The Spring Fair in Puyallup
ABOUT THE EVENT
This is a fully sanctioned traditional 4-meat PNWBA competition on the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington!
This event is open to the public Friday through Sunday for samples available to purchase. The venue is the Spring Fair 2026 for family fun and excitement! The public will come for the venue of vendors, rides and shows but established tradition will lead MANY to want to sample the best BBQ offerings of the PNW BBQ pitmaster’s have to offer!!
EVENT CONTACTS
Organizer & PNWBA Board Contact: Bill Stock @ 253-241-8917 or bill@pnwba.com
PNWBA Head Judges:
COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Load In
- · Thursday, April 9th from 2:00pm to 8:00pm (No Sooner)
- · Friday, April 10th from 8:00am to 5:00pm
Site Inspection
Saturday, April 11th from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Cooks Meeting (Required)
Saturday, April 11th @ 6:00 PM (Attendance Required)
Quiet Hours
10:00pm to 6:00am
Jack Shot
Sunday, April 12th @ 9:30am
Turn-In Times (Sunday, April 12th)
- · Chicken: 10:55:00 AM to 11:04:59 AM
- · Ribs: 11:55:00 AM to 12:04:59 PM
- · Pork: 12:55:00 PM to 1:04:59 PM
- · Brisket: 1:55:00 PM to 2:04:59 PM
Awards
5:00 PM (or earlier if possible)
*Subject to change based on event processing*
Load Out
Following awards, load out will be done systematically for safety of the public. NO vehicles are to move on to the grounds unless you have direct approval from Bill Stock.
Prize Pool
Total: $25,000
Prize Split: Top 3
- · Grand Champion = $2,000
- · Reserve Grand Champion = $1,000
- · Reserve Champion = $500
Prize Split: Each Category (Chicken, Ribs, Pork and Brisket) Paying 1st thru 15th places.
- · 1st Place = $825
- · 2nd Place = $750
- · 3rd Place = $700
- · 4th Place = $600
- · 5th Place = $500
- · 6th Place = $400
- · 7th Place = $300
- · 8th Place = $250
- · 9th Place = $225
- · 10th Place = $200
- · 11th thru 15th Place = $125/each
Sampling
The Washington State Fair is gracious enough to host a BBQ competition on their grounds while providing all the services required of a venue AND the prize purse!! What they ask of our teams is to be good patrons and help them attract attendees to the venue with our best, creative samples of BBQ and BBQ related items for sale to the public!
Definition of a “SAMPLE”: Small portion of a one or two bite offering. This equates to a 3oz or less size OR one single piece of meat like a rib, chicken wing, sausage OR half a bratwurst on a bun. Contact organizer for examples and more details.
Health Department: All teams must submit a Pierce County Health Department form (attached) with the sampling of foods they will be providing to the public. This form is due to Bill Stock by Friday, MARCH 27th, 2026!
Public Sampling Guidelines:
- · Friday, April 10th – OPTIONAL for teams that want to make extra money for the weekend. Please let Bill Stock know if you plan on doing so, this will allow you priority load in AND towards the front. We need 8 to 10 teams (or more) that are willing to do this for The Fair organizers. Sampling hours will be limited this day… TBD
- · Saturday, April 11th – REQUIRED for ALL teams to sample this day. Hours will be 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- · Sunday, April 12th – REQUIRED for ALL teams to sample this day. Hours will be 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM
*Please contact Bill Stock IF you would like to make specific arrangements for sampling. Smaller teams or single cooks, combining team efforts etc. Everyone needs to make the sampling effort, but we want to work together to make it the best we can for all!!
Sampling Sales:
Sales will be in the form of tokens. These will be sold at 2 cashiers by the front and supported by an additional cashier in the rear. Token counters will be coming through periodically to collect and count tokens. This is a 2-step verification process: Tokens are counted AND agreed upon by a designated PIC (Person in Charge) for their authorization of the count validation. This number will be logged with initials from a PIC and calculated totals at the end of each day. NO CASH OR OTHER SALES ON SITE WILL BE PERMITTED!! On Sunday afternoon, all tallies will be finalized, and checks will be made to each team and distributed during the load out process.
Token Cost: $3.00/token
Sample Cost: 1 or 2 Tokens per sample depending on offering and size.
Sample Split: 70/30 or 70% to the team and 30% to the venue.
Team Requirements & Inspection
Teams must review the Team Rules Page (recommended for all teams). Each site will be inspected. New teams should also visit our New Team Info page.
Inspection Reminder: Teams will be inspected for the following items. Failure to pass inspection means you cannot brine, inject or season meats or receive a turn-in box until the following requirements are met:
- 1. Competition meat must be held under 40°F, may be pre-trimmed, but cannot be brined, injected, or seasoned before inspection.
- 2. Coolers must have enough ice to keep meats and perishables at safe temperatures.
- 3. Fire extinguisher: 2A40BC or 3A40BC (or larger); must have a current inspection tag or have a dated receipt within 1 year.
- 4. Three basins for dishwashing: wash, rinse, sanitize.
- 5. Dish soap for dish wash station.
- 6. Bottle of bleach for dish wash station and sanitizing bucket.
- 7. Hand washing station (5-gallon minimum insulated container with free-flowing spigot and soap). Water temperature should be kept between 105-120 degrees.
- 8. Catch bucket for hand washing station water.
- 9. Bleach bucket with sanitizing solution, cleaning rag, chlorine test strips.
- 10. Digital stem thermometer.
- 11. IRS W-9 Form completed online prior to inspection. (We must report any winnings)
Registration & Fees
- · Entry Fee: $195.00 USD (non-refundable)
- · Cancellation: If event is canceled, $182.50 will be refunded. $12.50 is always non-refundable (processing expenses).
- · Payment: Due at time of registration
Site Utilities
- · Power: Provided, but bring backup if dependent
- · Potable Water: Provided
- · Trash, Ash, Grease, Grey Water Disposal: Provided
- · Ice: Not provided; available at nearby retail outlets
Team Site Size
Standard: 20x20 feet. This year the venue has changed locations in the fairgrounds and will require everyone to fit into a max of 20x20 feet.
Location & Directions
Venue: The Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington
· From I-5 North: Drive from I-5 South and Washington Highway 167 South to Puyallup. Take the exit towards Meridian Street South. Continue on South Meridian PASSING the Fairgrounds and under HWY 512 turning RIGHT onto 15th Avenue SW, Turn RIGHT onto 5th Street SW and RIGHT onto 14th Avenue SW. This will be at the back of the Fairgrounds, and you will be at a Security station entering the Fair. They will assign you ONE vehicle parking pass to come in this entrance for the weekend. DO NOT LOSE IT!!
· From I-5 South: Driving I-5 North take the Puyallup Exit 127, WA-512 exit East to Meridian Street South, Puyallup Exit. Turn RIGHT on South Meridian Street at the bottom of the exit. Take the next RIGHT onto 15th Avenue SW. You will go under Highway 512 and turn RIGHT onto 5th Street SW. Take a quick RIGHT again onto
14th Avenue SW. This will be at the back of the Fairgrounds, and you will be at a Security station entering the Fair. They will assign you ONE vehicle parking pass to come in this entrance for the weekend. DO NOT LOSE IT!!
Local Amenities
- · Grocery Stores: Safeway, Fred Meyer, Walmart
- · Hardware: ACE Hardware, Home Depot, Lowes, Wilco, Tractor Supply
- · Hotels: Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Basecamp Puyallup by Travelodge, Best Western Plus, Holiday Inn Express, Homewood Suites by Hilton
